1796 Draped Bust Dollars : Small Date - Large Letters

Small Eagle

What this coin looks like (obverse, reverse, mint mark location, special features, etc.):One major variety of the 1796 Draped Bust Silver Dollar features a small date on the obverse of the coin and large letters on the reverse of the coin. An example of this coin is depicted above.

The small date features slightly smaller numbers which are spaced further apart whereas the large date features larger numbers spaced more closely together. An easy way to identify the variety is to note how the "1" in the 1796 date is much thicker in the large date variety and the top of the "1" is much closer to the top of the "7". The "1" in the small date variety is thinner and the tops of the "1" and "7" are further apart. The difference between the 1796 small date vs large date is depicted below in the example comparison image:

Regarding the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" on the reverse of the coin: The small letters features noticeably small letters whereas the large letters are noticeably much larger. It is fairly easy to distinguish the variety simply by eyeing out the size of the letters. Another easy way to identify this variety is to observe how the small letters are space further away from the rim of the coin while the large letters are very close to touching the rim. The difference between the 1796 Large Letters vs Small Letters is depicted below in the example comparison image: